General note: isn't fan fiction THE BEST escape from reality sometimes? Sighs. Refocuses. Ready.

I knew the previous chapter would garner less response because there was no action, just reflection. I like to let our main characters reflect on their long history to honor it and to anchor this story securely in it, but let's continue and see how you like this one, shall we? A loooooong one, just to make sure enough is happening ;)

I know it's a subplot I'm exploring here, but I want all the Stabler kids to have their own moment in the story. Today it's Elizabeth's turn. And yes, she will eventually contribute a little to the main plot, just like the others, so bear with me ...

PS. I'm perfectly okay with criticism. All feedback is appreciated and I try to use it to improve my writing.

...

55. Elizabeth

Olivia had slept relatively well, aside from a few restless dreams that fortunately, she couldn't quite remember after waking up. She decided to start their morning quietly, allowing Noah to crawl into bed with her and snooze for a while longer before they took on the task of making breakfast together. Noah was excited about going to day care and Olivia was glad now that she'd started taking him there early on. He loved playing with the other children and always had happy stories when he got home. She had called to let the center know she was bringing Noah a little later. That usually wasn't a problem, as long as mom stayed out of sight of the other children. Seeing another parent sometimes made children long for their own mommy or daddy, so she or Lucy usually handed Noah over to his teacher in the hallway when they were late.

She hadn't heard from Elliot again, and Olivia couldn't help wondering if Kathy was going to call him, and if so, if she had any idea what he wanted to talk to her about. But Maureen had probably called her already, ever supportive of her mother. She couldn't wait to hear Kathy's defense for making a letter disappear and hiding the end of their marriage from her husband. And what would she say if Elliot decided to question Eli's paternity? She knew Kathy always talked about how things were 'supposed to be', and she couldn't really imagine the blonde dating again and taking a guy home. And Elliot had slept with her. Maybe even more than once. Olivia had never asked about that, of course.

"Momma go to Ewwie Ot?" Noah asked her after swallowing the last of his pancakes.

Olivia smiled, suddenly feeling butterflies in her stomach.

"Yes, my love. And Elliot is coming to stay with us for a while."

Noah's big eyes lit up.

"Ewwie come with us?" he squealed happily.

"Yes baby. When you come home today, Elliot will be here. Do you like that?"

"Yeeey!" Noah yelled, clapping his little hands. "Ewwie Noah big friend."

Olivia almost teared up at her son's enthusiasm.

"That's right baby. Elliot is your big friend."

"And mommies friend."

"Yes. He's mommies friend too."

...

Olivia was still smiling when she got into her car outside the day care center. Noah had started babbling about his big friend immediately when he'd spotted his teacher. He'd waved happily at his mother, not sad at all that she was leaving. Because mommy was going to get his big friend. She started the car and drove to the hospital. She couldn't believe it had been only a week. She'd been here every day since the accident and now she was taking Elliot home with her. If someone had told her this beforehand, she would have had them committed. No way would she reconcile with her old partner that easily after they way he'd abandoned her as if she had meant nothing to him at all. Within a few days, everything had changed. He had left her, yes. But he had never intended to stay away. He had finally admitted that his marriage was over and that he loved her. He had wanted to meet her, possibly to tell her just that. She believed him. There was no denying the sincerity and the love in his bright blue eyes. And now she was taking him home with her. He would be sleeping in her bed ...

There was a little bounce in her step when she walked up to Elliot's room. When she went in, she saw Greg standing next to Elliot, who was also standing. He grinned at her when he saw her, and lifted his left leg, showing off his new cast. The smaller cast ended just below the knee, allowing him to bend his leg slightly. Olivia tried to keep her eyes on either the cast or Elliot's face, but she couldn't help taking in the rest of him as well, including his tight t-shirt and his black boxer briefs that both accentuated their contents rather well. He really was amazingly well-built, and well-trained for his age.

When she looked into his eyes again, she could tell he'd seen her check him out. She blushed when he winked at her.

"Ready to take me home, babe?" Elliot asked her, and her eyebrows shot up.

"Babe?!"

"Oops," Greg muttered softly, trying but failing to hide a smirk.

Elliot just kept grinning, daring her to look away first or to tell him to lay off on the nicknames. One corner of Olivia's mouth tugged up and she shook her head, deciding to just let it slide for now.

"So he's actually being released?" she asked Greg.

"Yes, he is. We've already arranged for the rent of his crutches, but if you want a wheelchair too, you'll have to arrange that yourself. And don't forget the trapeze bar I told you about," Greg reminded her.

"What about clothes?" Olivia asked, glancing down Elliot's body again.

"My daughter Liz called me earlier to ask how I was doing," Elliot chimed in. "I asked her to swing by my place and get me some sweats I can wear when I leave here, and some other things for when I'm at your place. She should be here any minute."

Olivia was actually curious about Elizabeth after what Kathleen had told her about her youngest sister's living arrangements. They listened patiently to Gregs instructions while waiting for Elizabeth to show up, and a while later, Elliot's doctor came in with his release papers and prescriptions for his medication and pain killers. After half an hour, Elizabeth arrived with a friend that she introduced as Jessie.

Jessie shook hands with Elliot and Olivia politely but stayed in the background while they talked with Elizabeth. Olivia couldn't quite read the young woman, who seemed a little apprehensive around both of them. She had greeted her kindly, saying it had been too long and asking how she was doing, but Olivia could see why Elliot had wondered about her. Elizabeth was incredibly closed off. Olivia tried some small talk, asking both girls about school while Elliot slowly put on his sweatpants and sweatshirt. They gave short answers and when Olivia asked about their apartment, the girls glanced at each other before Elizabeth answered,

"We live in a group. Saves rent."

And that was the end of that conversation. Olivia asked if the girls wanted to come with them, inviting them for tea at her place, and they accepted.

...

Elliot was ready to go, and sat down in the wheelchair Greg had left for him. They could use it to wheel him to the exit, and would have to leave it there. It took some effort to get into Olivia's car, but they managed, and once they were all seated and Olivia started the car, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Man, it's good to be out in the real world again," he said.

He glanced at his daughter and her friend in the rear-view mirror.

"It's good to see you again, Liz."

"Yeah dad. I'm so glad you're starting to remember things. But I bet you're remembering things now too that you wish you didn't know, right?"

Elliot nodded, wondering how much his youngest daughter knew about what her mother had done.

"That's true I guess. Everyone is helping me put things together. There are still quite a few gaps though. So if you can help me fill them in, that would be great."

His daughter nodded and glanced at her friend Jessie.

"Anything to help, dad," Elizabeth sad quietly.

Elliot couldn't shake the feeling that something was up with both girls and he exchanged a look with Olivia. She was feeling it too. It wasn't a long drive to Olivia's apartment and Elliot looked around to see if he recognized anything.

"I moved here in 2013 so you wouldn't know this place," Olivia remarked.

In fact, Elliot remembered some things about Olivia's old apartment, but it was actually a relief that he wouldn't need to remember her place now. They all exited the car, and Elliot tested out his skills with the crutches, hoping he could make it into the elevator without any help. He saw both Olivia and Elizabeth roll their eyes simultaneously and then chuckle when he refused their help, and he was glad that things weren't too tense between them. Kathleen had told him that Elizabeth had pretty much shared her twin brother's opinion that Olivia had been a threat to their parents marriage, but she was being very polite to Olivia now. He managed to get into and out of the elevator on his own, but was glad when Olivia and Elizabeth helped him settle on Olivia's couch together. His chest and hip were a bit sore and he knew he would need to work hard to get fit again, because he was exhausted after being up for so long at a time.

Olivia set about making tea for everyone and Elliot used the opportunity to study Jessie some more. Both girls had sat down on the stools at Olivia's breakfast bar. Jessie was a very slender girl with black sleek hair, cut into an unsymmetrical bob line. She was wearing skinny jeans and white sneakers, and an off the shoulder knitted black sweater over a black tank top. She wore heavy black makeup around the eyes, her skin was pale and he couldn't help wondering if she was eating enough. His daughter, a blushing blonde without any makeup, was also slender but still looked healthier to him. She was also in jeans and white sneakers, and wore a light turtleneck sweater.

"So, have you two been friends long?" Olivia asked them innocently.

Elliot smiled inwardly. Olivia was trying to get a better read on the girls as well.

"Ehm, yeah. We live with four other people and we all moved into the loft in the same week," Elizabeth said. "We already knew we shared a few classes, but we didn't really know each other. But we became friends right away."

Jessie just nodded, and Olivia glanced at her while putting the kettle on the stove.

"Do you like living there?" Olivia asked.

The girls looked at each other again and Jessie fidgeted with her sweater.

"It's all we could afford at the time," Elizabeth said quietly.

"You needed to get out of the house, right?" Olivia said, leaning on the breakfast bar and looking at his daughter with concern and understanding in her eyes.

Elizabeth turned to look at her father and Elliot nodded at her.

"I understand kiddo."

Elizabeth breathed out slowly and nodded.

"Yeah. When dad left I just ... mom was leaning on me as it was, and that was only going to get worse. I just had to get out of there for my own sanity."

"And the loft was the only way to get out," Olivia deduced.

Both girls nodded, and Elliot wondered what Jessie had ran away from. Before he could ask anything, Olivia had turned her attention to the black-haired girl.

"And you, Jessie?"

Jessie bit her lip and Elizabeth put a comforting hand on her friend's thigh.

"Jessie lived with her dad and stepmom. Classic Cinderella story."

"Did they hurt you?" Olivia asked, but she regretted the question immediately and added, "I'm sorry Jessie. It's none of my business. I'm just used to talking to kids from families with difficulties and I sometimes ask too many questions."

"You worked at the same unit as Liz's dad?" Jessie asked, and Elliot was struck by her her hoarse, timid voice.

"I still work there," Olivia confirmed.

"Oh."

The girls exchanged another look, and Elliot was beginning to worry a little about them. Olivia turned back to her kettle because the water had started boiling, and prepared tea for all four of them. The girls moved to the couch and sat down next to each other. They seemed like two scared little birds and Elliot's fatherly instincts kicked in at last.

"Girls, if there is something going on that I should know about, just tell me okay? I'll do whatever I can to help."

Olivia gave him a look when she handed him his tea, and he shrugged lightly. Her gentle probing hadn't yielded much, so he was taking a more direct approach.

"What makes you think there's something going on dad?" Elizabeth asked. "We just came over to bring you some clothes and to see how you're doing. I'm so glad Olivia is helping you out now that you're so ... helpless."

She smirked and Elliot knew she was trying to change the subject. He exchanged another look with Olivia, who tried again.

"Honey, your father and I have been in this line of work for a long time. Let's just say our spider senses are picking up something, and if you need anything, we're here for you. Both of us."

Both girls bowed their heads simultaneously and then looked at each other again. The both sipped their tea and Elliot and Olivia waited with baited breath for them to speak. Their silence was just more proof that something was up. They were a little surprised when Jessie, the quiet one of the two, finally spoke up.

"When we all moved into the loft, we signed a contract."

Elizabeth kept staring into her cup of tea, and Jessie put a comforting arm around her before continuing.

"I was feeling kinda wild ... I guess we all were. We're three girls and three guys and the girls all signed a contract saying we would all have sex with all three guys at least once a week. The guys are pretty harmless, geeks basically, and officially it's their loft. They own the lease. We didn't see the harm as long as we used protection."

Elizabeth's cheeks were beet-red by now and she had to be embarrassed to admit to having sex with three guys in front of her father.

"The sex was consensual at all times?" Olivia asked, sitting down opposite them on the coffee table, and Elliot was glad she was being professional about it.

He still didn't remember his family clearly, but his concern for Elizabeth's well-being could only be described as that of a father for his daughter. His chest felt constricted and he had to remind himself to keep breathing, or another headache might kick in.

"Yeah, it was, basically," Jessie replied.

"But?" Olivia asked, sensing that there seemed to be a 'but'.

Elizabeth looked up at her friend, who smiled encouragingly at her and rubbed her back soothingly. Elizabeth was the timid one now, not Jessie.

"You're not ashamed of it, are you Liz?" Jessie asked her softly, almost whispering, and Elliot looked from the girls to Olivia.

"No," Elizabeth whispered back, and then added with a firmer voice, "No, I'm not Jessie."

The youngest Stabler girl sat up straight and looked at her father.

"Jessie and me ... we fell in love. I ... I only want to be with her now, not with the guys anymore."

Elliot exhaled slowly. Relief washed over him and tears welled up in his eyes. This was it. This was the secret she'd been carrying with her all those years. And after four years, he finally felt connected to his daughter. He looked at her, seeing apprehension in her eyes, and he realized she had been afraid to come out because she thought her parents would judge her. No wonder she had felt the need to flee the house once she'd be alone there with Kathy and Eli. Kathy wouldn't have understood and she'd had enough to deal with after his departure.
Elliot had seen enough on the job to have gained an understanding of these identity issues. He knew sexual orientation wasn't a choice. It's part of who a person is, and to deny that is to deny who they are. It wasn't his job as a father to judge his child. His job was to love and protect her, nothing more and nothing less.

Without thinking about his battered body, he reached out for his daughter and her friend, wrapping his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders and putting his hand on Jessie's shoulder.

"Honey ... girls ... if that is what you want, we're gonna make that happen. You don't have to go back to those boys anymore," he said definitively.

Elizabeth let out a soft sob and Olivia reached out to put a hand on her knee. Jessie looked at both of them and asked,

"But how? We can't afford a place of our own."

Elliot looked at Olivia and they had a brief wordless conversation. When Olivia gave him a small nod, he knew they were on the same page.

"Jessie, Liz. I'm going to be staying here with Olivia for a while so my apartment is free. You can use it for as long as you need it."

Elizabeth's head shot up and she looked between the two partners, and then at her girlfriend.

"For real?" she asked, wiping a few stray tears from her cheeks.

"For real," Olivia confirmed. "And if things change, we'll work it out. We won't kick you out in the streets. You can go and get your stuff right now if you want."

Both girls jumped up and hugged each other tightly. Olivia moved to the couch, close to Elliot.

"You okay?" she asked him softly.

Elliot just nodded, watching his daughter in the arms of her girlfriend. He swallowed hard and then whispered,

"She's my daughter."

"You remember?" Olivia whispered back.

"I ... it's not really remembering. It's knowing." he said, his voice trembling with emotion. "She's my daughter."

...